Lubricator



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,768

J.J.HENNES5Y LUBRICATOR Fiied sept. 1, 192s Zwem-r.

Patented Qct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES J. HENNESSY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

LUBRICA'IOR.

Application led September My invention relates to lubricators such as are adapted to be used on railroad rolling stock and of the type in which lubricant is pumped from a reservoir to the journal by mechanism operated by the shifting of the journal axially in the lubrica-tor.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved pump operating mechanism and in which certain automatic adjustment is possible so that abnormal movement of the journal through the journal box or the like will not produce abnormal movementof the pump plunger but will be accommodated automatically by the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate selected embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a lubricator mounted in the cellar of the driving boX.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail showing` a modified construction of the plunger operating element.

In the preferred form, the cellar is indicated at 1 and it will be understood that this cellar, or at least the lower part thereof, forms a lubricant reservoir adapted to be supplied with lubricant at intervals by workmen. The lubricator body comprises a portion 2 extending downwardly into the lower portion of cellar 1 and including an intake passage 3 and a discharge passage 4. These passages are provided with suitable valves 5 and 6, respectively, and between these valves is the entrance to a pump cylinder 7 in which a plunger' 8 is slidably mounted. The stem of plunger 8 extends upwardly and has formed thereon a collar 9. Spring 10 is compressed between the lower face of collar 9 and the upper end of cylinder 7 and serves to yieldingly maintain the collar in its upper position. A pin 11 in the wall of cylinder 7 is received in a slot 12 in the piston and serves to limit the movement of the latter.

A horizontal shaft 13 is located above plunger 8 and is journaled preferably in suitable lugs 14 on the lubricator body. A pinion 15 is secured on shaft 13 near one end of the latter and a cam 16 is frictionally secured on the shaft immediately over plunger 8. by means of an adjustable collar 17. Slidably mounted in suitable lugs on the lubricator body is a horizontal rod 19 extending at right angles to shaft 13. Where rod 19 1, laas. serial No. 660,653.

crosses shaft 13 a rack 20 is provided on the former and is meshed with the teeth of pinion 15. This rod 19 extends into contact with an annular surface 21 upon the journal A which is to be lubricated. This surface may be the hub of the wheel or a fixed or removable collar upon the journal. It may be outside of the cellar, as shown, or inside thereof if desired. Obviously shifting movement of the journal along its axis to the right will move contact rod 19 so as to rotate pinion 15 thereby rotating shaft 13 and cam 16. Rotation of the latter in either direction from the position indicated in Figure 1 will thrust plunger 8 downwardly until the upper end of slot 12 contacts with pin 11. Any further rotation of shaft 13 will resultin slipping ofthe same in collar 17.

then the ournal A returns to its original position Contact rod 19 will also return to its original position due to the action of a spring 22 compressed between the righthand end of the rod and a lug 23 on the lubricator. This movement will also be assisted by the expansion Iof spring 10 tending to raise the plunger 8. Here again abnormal movement of the shaft, although unlikely, will, if produced by spring 22, result in slippage of collar 17 on shaft 13 in the opposite direction 3' from the slipping movement previously referred to. i

The alternate raising and lowering of plunger 8 draws the lubricating material in through passage 3 and valve 5 and discharges it through valve 6 and passage 4 through a tube 24 to the surface of the our nal which is preferably provided with waste packing 25 to retain and distribute the lubricant. The entire lubricator body or subcellar is yieldingly supported in the cellar proper by springs 26 and the whole device may be removed as a unit from the cellar or applied thereto.

This construction makes it possible to produce a lubricator which may be applied to standard cellars without change in the latter.

In Figure 3, a slight modification of the cam construction is shown. In this modification the cam 27 is mounted upon the contact rod 28 and is in the form of a wedge the inclined face of which bears against the mounted upper end of the plunger 29, and operates the latter similarly to the operation of plunger 8 by the rotatable cam 16. Preferably the collar 30 which secures cam 27 on the rod 28 is tightened just enough to permit lil slippage of the cam on the rod so thatJ abnormal movement of the rod to the right will not force plunger 29 beyond a predetermined point here iXed by the bushing 3l surrounding plunger 29 and inside ot plunger spring 3:2. By means of these adjustable cams the lubricator operating mechanism may automatically take `care of any inaccuracies in the assembly or" the parts When they are iirst installed in the cellar. It is quite possible that no further sliding ot the cam on the rod Will be called for, but, as best provided in Figure 1, such additional slippage may take place Without rendering the mechanism inoperative.

I claim l.. In a journal lubricat-or, a pump including aA plunger, a cam for operating said plunger, a rod for actuating said cam, a friction connection between said rod and ram, said rod extending into Contact with an annular surface or" the journal to be lubricated and adapted to vbe reciprocated by axial shitting ot' the journal.

Q. ln a journal lubricator, a pump including a plunger, a cam for operating said plunger, a member upon which said cam is mounted and movement of which tends to move said cam, means tor limiting the movement of said cam, the mounting of said cam on said member providing tor relative niovement between them, and means for actuating said member by axial sluiting ot' the journal to be lubricated.

3. ln a journal lubricator, a Contact rod adapted to be moved by axial shifting of the journal to be lubricated, a rack on said rod, a pinion meshed With said rack, a cam op- .erated by said pinion, a pump including a plunger actuated by said cam, an element limiting the movement of said plunger, and meansfor providing lost motion between said Contact rod and said plunger.

4. In a journal lubrieator, a Contact rod adapted to be moved by axial shit-ting ot the journal to be lubricated, a rack on said rod, a. pinion nieshed with said rack, a pinion shait secured thereto, a collar trietionally retained in position on said shaft, a cam Yformed on said collar, a lubricant pump including a plunger actuated by said cam, and a limit stop Afor said plunger.

ln a journal lubrieator, a reservoir, a vertical pump cylinder connected thereto, a plunger in said cylinder, means for yieldingly supporting said plunger in raised position, a horizontal shaft passing over said plunger and shaped so as to press said plunger downwardly When .oscillated in either dire-rtion from a normal position, a pinion earried by said sha'l't, and a rack meshing with said pinion and reeiprocated by axial shifting et the journal tov which the device is applied. V

(5. In journal lubrieator, a Contact rod adapted to be moved by axial shifting oi the journal to be lulirieated, a raek on said rod, a pinion meshed with said rack, a pinion shaft secured to said pinion, a collar, means tor frictionally retaining said collar in position on said shaft, an element tor adjusting said means, a cam formed on said collar, a lubricant pump including a plunger actuated by said cam, and a limit stop 'for said plunger.

In testimony whereof l hereunto aiiix my signature this th day of August, 1923.

JAMES J. HENNESSY. 

